Current:Home > NewsRare freshwater mussel may soon go extinct in these 10 states. Feds propose protection.-LoTradeCoin
Rare freshwater mussel may soon go extinct in these 10 states. Feds propose protection.
View Date:2024-12-24 00:40:45
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday announced it's proposing protections for a rare freshwater mussel historically found in 10 states.
The at-risk green floater is a small freshwater mussel found in small streams and large rivers in the eastern United States, the federal agency reported.
The short-lived green floater is near endangerment due to "the loss, fragmentation, and degradation of its aquatic habitat," the service told USA TODAY.
The agency said it is proposing to list the mussel as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
What states historically have green floaters?
The mussel is historically native to the District of Columbia and the following 10 states:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia.
As of Tuesday, the green floater could still be found in seven states within its native range: Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
But wildlife officials said there are no recent records of green floater from New Jersey or D.C., and green floaters were considered eradicated in Alabama and Georgia.
What is a green floater mussel?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees management of endangered species including the green mussel which have ovate trapezoidal shaped shells.
Their shells are yellowish brown or olive green and adults rarely exceed 2.17 inches, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission.
The species were first found in Pennsylvania, according to a fact sheet rom the commission, are omnivore and eat microscopic matter including bacteria and algae, the agency said. Their lifespan is three to four years.
Where do you find green floaters?
The fast-growing mussels prefer rivers and streams with slow to medium flows and good water quality.
Green floaters are often found in sand or gravel where they secure a foothold then bury themselves as deep as 15 inches.
"They have limited mobility, and fast-flowing currents or high-water events can cause them to be washed downstream," the agency said. "When they occur in larger streams and rivers, they are found in quieter pools and eddies, away from strong currents."
Click here to view an interactive map of where the mussels are found.
Why are green floaters at-risk?
Green floaters face high risks of declines based on current land-use pattern, the agency said.
"Development, energy production and agriculture have affected the quality of many streams within the species’ range, and increasing drought, intense storms and rising temperatures associated with climate change are projected to further degrade aquatic habitats," the agency wrote in a press release.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it is proposing to designate about 1,600 miles of river in eight units now occupied by green floater as critical habitat in these six states:
- Maryland
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
veryGood! (87)
Related
- Black, red or dead: How Omaha became a hub for black squirrel scholarship
- 'Shy' follows the interior monologue of a troubled teen boy
- 'We Are A Haunting' is a stunningly original, beautiful novel of devotion
- 'Gone to the Wolves' masterfully portrays the heavy metal scene of the '80s and '90s
- The Bachelorette's Desiree Hartsock Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 3 With Chris Siegfried
- Millions of people have long COVID brain fog — and there's a shortage of answers
- In graphic memoir 'In Limbo,' a Korean American finds healing and humanity
- In 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' the ladies live, laugh, and love in Italy
- When is 'The Golden Bachelorette' finale? Date, time, where to watch Joan Vassos' big decision
- Ballroom dancer and longtime 'Dancing With The Stars' judge Len Goodman dies at 78
Ranking
- Satire publication The Onion acquires Alex Jones' Infowars at auction
- Belarus dictator Lukashenko, a key Putin ally, lauds China's peaceful foreign policy before meeting Xi Jinping
- Actor Joel Edgerton avoids conflict in real life, but embraces it on-screen
- #FindTheKetchupBoatGuy success: Heinz locates the man who survived nearly a month at sea by eating ketchup and seasonings
- Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are expecting their first child together
- House select committee on China set to hold first high-profile hearing on Tuesday
- Emily in Paris’ Ashley Park Joins Only Murders in the Building Season 3
- Weird Al on accordions, bathrooms, and getting turned down by Prince
Recommendation
-
Former North Carolina labor commissioner becomes hospital group’s CEO
-
Tom Hanks has starred in dozens of movies. Now he's written a novel, too
-
'The Covenant of Water' tells the story of three generations in South India
-
Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of 'When Bad Things Happen to Good People,' dies at 88
-
AIT Community Introduce
-
'The Skin and Its Girl' ponders truths, half-truths, and lies passed down in families
-
Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval Calls Lala Kent a Bully Who Needs a Hobby as Feud Heats Up
-
Shop the Best Under $60 Denim Jeans From Levi's, Abercrombie, H&M, Urban Outfitters & More